Water collected in two Portland-area homes recently logged the highest lead levels reported locally in nearly two decades, new testing data obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive shows.

Water from a home in Tigard recorded lead of 648 parts per billion. A home in unincorporated Washington County tested at 113 parts per billion.

No amount of lead is considered safe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discourages children or pregnant women from drinking water that exceeds 15 parts per billion.

Both test results came from homes that receive drinking water from the Portland Water Bureau, which serves nearly 1 million people in the metro area, including suburbs such as Gresham, Tigard and Tualatin.

Results from the two homes are “alarming,” Gabriel Solmer, a Water Bureau spokeswoman, said in an emailed response to questions. But she stressed that the results appear to be abnormalities and aren’t indicative of broader problems.

Solmer said officials took immediate steps to contact the wholesale providers that officially supplied the water, Tualatin Valley and the city of Tigard. Those agencies discussed the high results with each homeowner.

Officials don’t believe the results indicate a greater problem in high-risk homes built between 1970 and 1985, Solmer said. Officials are required to test homes built between 1983 and 1985, with copper piping and lead solder, as part of federal clean-water rules. Portland’s naturally corrosive water can leach lead from that kind of plumbing.

Since 1999, Portland officials haven’t seen a test higher than 98 parts per billion, results show.

“The two results are unusual and extraordinary,” Solmer said.

“There is no reason to believe there are a significant number of homes with similar levels,” she added, “otherwise we would see this type of result more frequently.”

Federal regulators require water providers to keep lead levels at or below 15 parts per billion, as measured through samples collected at specific homes throughout the system. If samples from at least 10 percent of tested high-risk homes exceed that level, water systems must notify the public or take steps to reduce corrosion.

Portland once again hovered just below the federal standard, reporting 13.1 parts per billion for spring testing. Of 114 samples only 8 percent exceeded 15 parts per billion.

The results are “certainly good news as it shows that Portland’s water treatment processes are working as intended,” Solmer said.

Federal officials, in the wake of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, are now keeping closer watch on Portland.

“We remain interested in what more (Portland) can do to minimize the levels of lead at users’ taps,” wrote Marie Jennings, manager of the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional drinking water unit, in an April 14 letter to state regulators.

Portland officials say there are odd circumstances behind the two high tests.

In the first, water was collected from a bathroom faucet instead of the kitchen sink. Five of 22 past tests at the Tigard home since 2003 previously tested high, but never more than 38 parts per billion.

“These results indicate that the source of lead is from the bathroom faucet,” the Water Bureau wrote to The Oregonian/OregonLive. “It was strongly recommended to the customer to not use the bathroom faucet for consumption and the customer was encouraged to replace the faucet.”

At the other home, near Cedar Mill, none of the past five tests since 2013 exceeded 15 parts per billion. The owner told officials he thought he used hot tap water – which is more likely to release lead from plumbing or fixtures.

The owner, Michael Tranlong, 50, said he’s not worried by the 113 parts per billion result. He lives alone in the home, which he bought in 1992.

“I haven’t really given it that much thought,” he said, before adding, “I’m not too concerned.”

I am in the process of obtaining a home and needed to find a home inspector – I searched the web an TOP NOTCH was the first company that popped up – I read their reviews and made the call for a quote – Jeff was very professional and he was able to schedule my home inspection – Mark was the inspector for the home i was purchasing and he was very informative, professional and explained the findings in a matter in which I could understand...

Jeff recently did a home inspection for me. I found him to be very thorough, knowledgeable and patient. I stopped him in the middle of his inspection many times to ask questions and he was more than willing to stop what he was doing and answer my questions. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to inspect my prospective new home. It was time and money very well spent. I would recommend him to anybody. Thank...

I just wanted to write you and tell you what a Stellar young man you have working for you, and that is Spencer. He is such an asset to you and you probably already know that. We had an amazing conversation yesterday, and WOW, what a great attitude he has. He also did primo work. Cleaned up after himself and you hardly even knew he pulled the toilet or any signs of him there.

I hope he continues to have the opportunity in your company to keep growing. I will recommend your company to anyone.

Thank you again Jeff. You are a great person also. I am glad I found your company.

I used Jeff at Top Notch Home Inspection when we needed a home inspected recently. He was available right away and did a very thorough inspection of the home. We had the report back in less than 24 hours. He inspected the sewer and have us our own personal video. Jeff has taken SEVERAL calls from me and answered all of my questions...

Thank you Jeff.
I hadn’t gotten around to it yet in the whirlwind of house hunting, but I wanted to follow up and thank Mark for his last inspection he performed for us. He was very professional, diligent, and thorough. His inspection saved us from purchasing a house that had a lot of major issues we weren’t aware of, potentially saving us from a money pit, and are extremely happy to have him as our inspector...

Jeff Hayes is a terrific home inspector. He gives detailed reports of home inspections and radon tests. A home should never be purchased without a qualified home inspector. Jeff is that home inspector. You can depend upon him to be prompt and open with all lines of communication. When he was our home inspector he answered all questions fully, he always replied quickly to our e-mails, he completed his work in a...

1Teresa Shannon

What a great company!! Thank you for everything, especially the Military Discount. We hit rock bottom when we both lost our jobs and we are working hard to get back on top so your generosity is greatly appreciated. I will report your excellent service with the BBB and recommend you to friends and family.

Mark @ Top Notch handled my home inspection and I couldn’t be happier! He took the time to do the job right and provided us with a very detailed report! He was kind and professional and I will be recommending Top Notch Home Inspections to all my friends and family!